OVER THE COUNTER: Don’t let ticks take the fun out of summer

Tuesday

Jun 27, 2017 at 4:27 PM

By Steve Bernardi and Gary Kracoff/Daily News Correspondents

There is something enchanting about New England summers – the occasional teasing winds, the stunning sunsets, and the sheer mystery of the weather that can be sweltering one day and spring-like the next. We especially love hiking our state’s many parks and trails over the summer, especially when the humidity is tolerable.

Trekking through our wonderful nature preserves, however, comes with a hidden danger, and we’re not talking about those suburban turkeys that seem to be ruffling everyone’s feathers lately. We’re talking about ticks. Though these tiny creatures are often smaller than a rice kernel, they can carry diseases that can seriously harm grown men and women.

The most perilous tick-related illness for New Englanders is Lyme disease. And it’s nothing to gamble with: Massachusetts is one of the four worst states for contracting the tick-borne illness.

Caused by a nasty type of bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that’s commonly carried by blacklegged ticks, Lyme disease often causes a fever, headache and fatigue within the first few weeks of infection. In some people, it also causes a bull’s-eye shaped skin rash. The problem is, these ticks can be hard to spot, and most of the immediate symptoms, except for the rash, can be confused with many other illnesses, causing them to be ignored or misdiagnosed. Some people never even realize they’ve been bitten and don’t get prescribed the antibiotics needed to wipe out the disease until late-stage symptoms send them to the doctor. Worse, if untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, including the joints, nervous system and heart.

The best way to ward off Lyme disease is to avoid ticks. We’re not saying you should stay away from the woods or move out of state, but you should protect and check yourself – and your children and pets – every time you venture into areas known to have ticks.

Here are some tips to consider:

1. Use tick repellent on your body, clothes and shoes. This is a turnoff for many because the common ingredient in these sprays and lotions is DEET. But there are many alternative brands that contain plant oils – such as those of rosemary, lemongrass, cedar, peppermint, thyme, garlic plant and geraniol – to keep ticks away. The essential oil of wild tomato leaves and stems also shows good results for warding off ticks.

2. Wear white clothing and shoes. This might not win you the Most Fashionable Hiker award, but it will help you catch ticks before they catch you. Check everything – your body, hair, pants, shirts, socks, shoes.

3. If you find a tick crawling on your skin or clothing, kill it with rubbing alcohol or wrap it in tape and flush it down the toilet. If you find one latched onto your body, use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it, pinching the tick as close as possible to your skin. Avoid yanking it and try to keep the tick from breaking apart. You don’t want pieces of the mouth lodged into your skin. There are tick removal kits that can make the job easier. Then, clean the bite area and your hands with alcohol or soap and water, or both. You can save the tick in a sealed jar or bag in case your doctor recommends getting it tested for Lyme, and some local health departments provide this service.

4. If you do get bitten and develop a fever or rash over the next few weeks, see your doctor and explain your symptoms and that you were bitten. Typically, if your symptoms warrant further testing, your doctor will recommend two blood tests to see if you were infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Sometimes, patients who have late-stage Lyme disease will see a doctor after having strange symptoms such as bad headaches and neck stiffness, severe pain and swelling in the knees or other joints, unexplained heart palpitations or dizziness and shortness of breath, short-term memory problems, or other unexplained pains that come and go.

5. Know that for a small number of people, symptoms can linger for many months after taking a full course of antibiotics. This is believed to be caused by “residual damage” to the body and immune system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but some medical experts believe it’s possible the Lyme disease symptoms could be chronic, and there’s a debate about whether it’s necessary to take antibiotics over a long period to clear the body of the bacterium that causes Lyme. Talk to your doctor if symptoms don’t seem to be going away after getting treated; if necessary, get a second opinion.

We know, this can be a contentious issue, and we’re not about to tell patients that their symptoms aren’t real. We also know the dangers of using antibiotics for too long. That’s why we believe preventing bites in the first place is the best remedy

If you do get bitten, or suspect you were, see your doctor right away before the disease gets out of hand. With a little work and by just paying attention to your body, you can show these little critters who’s boss.

Steve Bernardi is a compounding pharmacist and Dr. Gary Kracoff has a degree in naturopathic medicine and is a registered pharmacist and at Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham, Mass. For more information, visit www.naturalcompounder.com. Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can e-mail steveandgary@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.

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